On October 19, 1978, 21-year-old Timothy Schofield was fatally shot in the parking lot of a Ypsilanti bar known locally as Abigail’s. His death was one part of a violent spree that began with the murder of Ronald and Jeanette Hardesty at their rural home near Belleville and continued with additional killings in the area, including Troy Curry in the same parking lot and Daniel Wood at a machine shop; another person was wounded during the spree.

Authorities identified 21-year-old William Edward Hardesty as the suspect. After the shootings, a multi-agency manhunt ended the same day when Hardesty returned to his parents’ home and exchanged gunfire with officers in an hour-long standoff; he was shot, taken into custody, and treated for his wounds. He was charged with multiple counts of murder and assault.

Are there readers who remember Abigail’s or the Belleville–Ypsilanti area that night and can offer details that haven’t been shared publicly?